Clarksburg student gets maximum sentence but judge suspends most of it Featured

Alwin Chen. FILE PHOTO Alwin Chen, the Clarksburg High School senior who was charged with carrying a loaded handgun with him into school, was sentenced to the maximum of three years in jail, with all but four months of that sentenced suspended.

Chen, 18, who has been in jail since his Feb. 15 arrest said, “What I did was stupid. I didn’t mean to hurt anybody.”

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge John Maloney told the very apologetic Chen that if the young man works hard and gets good grades in college, he would consider permanently erasing this incident from his record. Chen also was sentenced to five years of probation, ordered to serve 300 hours of community service, undergo mental counseling and submit to random drug testing. Jill Michaels, Chen’s attorney, described Chen as a bright student and a good athlete.

“Alwin is not bad. This kid is good. The mistake is bad,” Michaels said. “He is bright. His judgement call was stupid.”

Both of Chen’s parents addressed the judge, often wiping tears from their eyes.

“My son, Alwin, he is a very loving, caring and sensitive boy,” said his mother. “My heart is breaking for him. I always loved him. Your honor, please, please, give my son more chance,” she said.

For further details on what led Chen to assemble his own guns and bring one to school often, see this Thursday’s Sentinel.